2023 Class of Fellows, Jeffrey Hou, Washington Chapter

University of Washington, Seattle
by Staff

Washington Chapter - Category: Knowledge

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Washington Chapter - Category: Knowledge

Jeffrey Hou is one of the foremost scholars, educators, and advocates for democratic design in the global built environment. An international leader, he elevates grassroots activism for environmental equity and justice into the public, professional, and academic spheres. His work in the realms of urbanism, community design, and design activism have profoundly affected the profession at multiple scales. Jeff has worked with indigenous tribes, farmers, and fishers in Taiwan, neighborhood residents in Japan, villagers in China, and inner-city immigrant youths and elders in North American cities, in projects ranging from conservation of wildlife habitats to design of urban open space. During his two-decade-long academic career, he has produced a significant body of work on community design, public space and democracy, bottom-up urbanism, service learning, and cross-cultural placemaking. This work includes twelve co-authored, edited, and co-edited books, over twenty journal articles, and more than forty book chapters, as well as built work, developed in collaboration with community organizations, that has received local and regional awards. With extensive experience in academic administration and service on boards of local, national, and international organizations, Jeff's intellectual leadership also helps elevate the profession publicly and academically. He has won many awards, including the 2023 Outstanding Educator Award from CELA; the 2019 Award of Excellence in Research and/or Creative Work Award, Senior Level, CELA; and the 2019 LAF Fellowship for Innovation and Leadership.